Riley Armstrong hails from small town Alberta, Canada. He started out as a … Read Full Bio ↴Riley Armstrong hails from small town Alberta, Canada. He started out as a one man band with a record player, loop machine and acoustic guitar. After touring and promoting his first album he signed on with Flicker Records and headed to Nashville where he recorded and released the next album. With a good following and a solid fan base, his quirky music hit a soft spot in the hearts of many. After a marriage to the woman of his dreams he relocated back to Alberta and settled in Calgary. He has now released his third album under a new label. Many would say his new work is more contemplative and mature since his marriage and first born. Way to go Riley!

Sleep
Riley Armstrong Lyrics

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Looking straight at the light
It never used to be that bright last night
But it's a new day with fuzz in my eyes
Alarm is still ringing when I open the blinds
How do these people do it?
They are like driving around like there's nothing to it
I imagine it's the medication their on
Or probably just the coffee but

One thing is certain in life
And that is today I'm going to eat cereal
Yeah, today I'm going to eat cereal
I mean come on let's get our priorities straight
But before I know it I'm out the door late
Just trying to catch some rat or some race
Or something I'm not quite sure what it is
So for now I just best keep running
And by nine AM my brain and my body
Finally decide to meet
And we come to the same conclusion as yesterday
That I never get enough sleep

Sleep, no I never get enough
Always waking up tired
Sleep, no I never get enough
If I don't show up I might get fired
Sleep, no I never get enough
Always waking up tired
Sleep, no I never get enough
If I don't show up I might get fired

They call it commuting
But I think they should call it intravenous
'Cause it's what I need every time I get
Stuck behind a truck, just trying to turn left
Just trying to turn left, why are you trying to turn left?
Why don't you go park that crazy little cube van
Hop in I'll drop you off or something
'Cause at this rate we'll both be late
But I'd rather be late than both be sitting here doing nothing
And by nine AM my brain and my body
Finally decide to meet
And we come to the same conclusion as yesterday
That I never get enough sleep

Sleep go on and sleep some more
Sleep go on and sleep some more

Overall Meaning

The song Sleep by Riley Armstrong talks about the daily struggle of waking up early and not getting enough sleep. The song begins with the singer waking up to bright light and realizing that it's a new day. He wonders how others manage to be so active and energetic in the morning. He imagines that people might be on medication or drinks too much coffee, but he knows that he needs to get his priorities straight and eat a bowl of cereal. The singer then rushes out the door but is not sure where he's headed.

As the song progresses, the singer talks about commuting and how it feels like an IV drip. He mentions getting stuck behind a truck and trying to turn left, which creates frustration. Nonetheless, he knows that he needs to keep moving, or else he might get fired. By the time he reaches nine in the morning, his brain and body finally meet, but they both conclude that he never gets enough sleep.

The song is an expression of relatable daily struggles that many people can relate to, and it highlights how hard it can be to maintain a work-life balance. We live in a world where we are expected to work hard, hustle and be on the move, and the lack of sleep seems like a small issue, but it can have a significant impact on an individual's well-being.

Line by Line Meaning

Looking straight at the light
I am waking up to a very bright morning.

It never used to be that bright last night
The morning light is unusually bright compared to the previous night.

But it's a new day with fuzz in my eyes
Today is a new day, but my vision is still blurry from sleep.

Alarm is still ringing when I open the blinds
Despite opening the blinds, my alarm clock is still ringing, indicating I'm running late.

How do these people do it?
I wonder how other people manage to get up early every day.

They are like driving around like there's nothing to it
Other people seem to have no trouble driving in the morning, while I struggle to get out of bed.

I imagine it's the medication their on
I think other people might be taking medication to help them wake up in the morning.

Or probably just the coffee but
Alternatively, it could be that they drink lots of coffee.

One thing is certain in life
I know for sure that I am going to eat cereal today.

And that is today I'm going to eat cereal
My top priority today is to have breakfast.

I mean come on let's get our priorities straight
Having a good breakfast is more important than anything else I have to do today.

But before I know it I'm out the door late
Despite my best intentions, I end up running late for work.

Just trying to catch some rat or some race
I'm not sure why I am so busy, but I feel like I'm in a constant rush.

Or something I'm not quite sure what it is
I'm not even sure what I am trying to accomplish by rushing around so much.

So for now I just best keep running
I feel like I have no choice but to keep hurrying to wherever I am going.

And by nine AM my brain and my body
After several hours of rushing around, I finally feel awake and alert.

Finally decide to meet
My body catches up with my brain and they start working together.

And we come to the same conclusion as yesterday
Just like yesterday, I realize that I am still not getting enough sleep.

That I never get enough sleep
No matter how hard I try, I always feel tired due to lack of sleep.

Sleep, no I never get enough
I always feel like I need more sleep.

Always waking up tired
I wake up every day feeling exhausted.

If I don't show up I might get fired
I feel pressured to show up to work on time, as it is essential for my job security.

They call it commuting
The daily journey to work is known as commuting.

But I think they should call it intravenous
I feel like I need a constant supply of caffeine to keep me going during my commute.

'Cause it's what I need every time I get stuck behind a truck, just trying to turn left
Whenever I get stuck in traffic, I feel like I need more caffeine to stay alert and awake.

Just trying to turn left, why are you trying to turn left?
I feel frustrated when I get stuck behind other drivers who seem to be slowing me down.

Why don't you go park that crazy little cube van, Hop in I'll drop you off or something
I feel like offering to help other drivers, as it might help me get to work faster too.

'Cause at this rate we'll both be late
If we both keep driving this way, we will both be late for work.

But I'd rather be late than both be sitting here doing nothing
I feel like it's better to be late for work than to be stuck in traffic doing nothing.

Sleep go on and sleep some more
I wish I could sleep more and not have to worry about being late for work.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CRAIG MACKENZIE ARMSTRONG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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